200 guitarists whom i've admired since...1965? Guitarists who affected me, excited me, and/or made me think. Why this list? Why 200?? First, when asked to name guitarists who have influenced me or who i admire, i always toss out a few names and then later experience pangs of remorse for forgetting names -- now i can just say, "check out the list on my website." Second, i believe in giving credit where credit is due.

The number 200 just popped into my head randomly, but it has turned out to be a pretty good estimate. The first 170 or so came easily, jotted down in under two hours during a mixing session for the Destroy All Nels Cline alb. Of course, i inevitably came up with more than 200, but i've decided to limit myself (!) -- for now...

There will undoubtedly be much chatter about who is NOT on the list. Please, don't harass me -- i'm sure i've forgotten many, and i would prefer to be spared the embarrassment of having to justify my decision to leave certain people off the list consciously. But at least let me confront some controversy about those who are on it briefly. And without thoroughness -- it may shed some light on how my tiny brain works in this regard.

Many of the guitarists on this list were favorites of mine when i was a teenager. There are a lot not only because i am, after all, a guitar fan, but because one is perhapsless discerning as an excitable boy. THIS LIST IS NOT ABOUT WHO'S BEST. It's in NO PARTICULAR ORDER because i don't believe in "best." It gives me pleasure to lump all these artists together. It's humorous and surreal, and i intend it as both an homage to them and to show how randomly things collide in this life, how one just
never knows...

Some brief explanations, then we're all on our own: I'm anticipating shock at the inclusion of Peter Frampton on this list. I single him out here because he was a huge influence on me, but only at a small portion of his career. His playing with Humble Pie was, to me at age 15 or so, profoundly melodic and "jazzy," even during the most torrid and blustery rock tunes. I tried to copy his lines. By the time of his massive solo success, none of these traits seemed in evidence. In fact, i didn't even recognize him on his solo stuff! But how many guitarists on this list burned brightly for me, later to fully dim artistically? How many are dead? All that matters here is that moment when inspiration strikes and nourishes a life. Take also the inclusion of Jerry Garcia. I struggled mightily with this one. I enjoyed the Dead from about 1967-1971, but unfortunately this path went on for, what, 25 more years without my hearing any further illumination. And the phenomenon of Jerry Garcia frankly is hard to fathom, yet i enjoyed "Anthem of The Sun" and "Workingman's Dead" a lot! So in he goes. Same with Jimmy Page, who i came to admire as an arranger/colorist in the late Zeppelin work. Never liked his "lead" work much, sorry. But in he goes!

Get it? So have fun, and try to keep a positive (and fun) frame of mind/heart. My profound thanks to Devin for not only doing this silly thing, but also for (without me asking) doing research when i wrote things like "the guy in the Count Five" (John Michalski.) And one other thing: Jan Hammer is included both as a joke and in all seriousness because even though he's a keyboardist, he's done some of the best guitar work ever! So there!!!

I'm sure i'll soon add 100 more. Lord knows, there are so many guitarists that i haven't heard and/or haven't learned to appreciate yet.

*NOTE: We've attempted to include links for some of the guitarists listed. However, we suggest checking the All Music Guide for info. on the others. They are a great resource!